Automatic feed-regulator.



No. 760,435. 'PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

E. R. DRAVER.

AUTOMATIC FEED REGULATOR.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1903.

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'lllllllll AUTOMATIC FEED REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1903.

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\llll No. 760,435. PATBNTED MAY 24, 1904.

E. R. DRAVER.

AUTOMATIC FEED REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 100a. x0 110mm. 3 sums-41mm a.

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Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL R. DRAVER, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC FEED-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,435, dated May 24, 1904. Application filed July 6,1903. Serial No. 164,309. (No model.)

1'0 aMw/wm it may concern.-

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to automatic feed-reg ulators of the class designed to afford a continuous feed of grain or other material which shall be constant in weight per unit of time, and has for itsoloject to provide an improved machine of this general type.

To this end my invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices which will be hereinafter described, and delined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like notations refer" to like parts throughout the several views.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improved machine chiefly in side elevation, but with some parts broken away and others shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the machine on the line of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section on the line m" of Fig. 2.

The numeral 1 represents a suitable casing or shell adapted to be supported above a rollermill or other machine which is to be supplied from the feed-regulator. As shown, the easing 1 is in the form of a cylinder open at its lower end, but closed at its upper end and provided in its upper end wall or head with an inlet-thimble 2, to which the stock is supplied from a supply-chute or other source 3. The casing 1 is also provided with two pairs of knife-edged fulcrums &, fixed to the exterior walls thereof. On the said fulcrums 4 are mounted a corresponding pair of bifurcated levers, (marked, respectively, 5 and 6,) which levers are coupled together at their main or long arms by a rigid link 7. i From the upper lever 6 is suspended by hanger-arms 8 a sleeve 9, which telescopes with the inlet-thimble 2 and cooperates with a fixed cone 10 to afford the supply-valve for the feed-regulator. The

cone 10 is mounted point upward and is scoured to the inclined walls of a fixed hopper 11, which spans the interior of the casing 1 and is made fast to the walls thereof. The cone 10 is directly above the outlet of the fixed hopper 1 1. From the other or lower pivotal lever 5 by angular hanger-rods 12 is suspended within the casinga movable receiver or controlling-hopper 13. On the long arm of the lever 5 is adjustably mounted a counterbalancing-weight 1 1, the lever-arm being graduated to indicate divisions in weight, such as pounds. The walls of the casing 1 are suitably slotted to permit the passage. of the hanger-arms 8 and 12 and the required vertical movements thereof. To one of the prongs of the pivotal lever 5 is pivoted a depending rack 15, which engages with the initial member of a train of multiplyinggears 16, which, together with the small fan 17 to which said gears impart motion, are mounted within a suitable small case 18, shown as fixed to the casing or shell 1 of the feed-regulator. he top wall of the small casing 18 is slotted to pass the rack 15.. The parts 16, 17 and 18 constitute an ordinary so-called clock-fan or strike-wheel cheek used in clocks and cooperates with the pivotal rack 15 to prevent small vibrations, and thereby avoid the trembling which might otherwise interfere with the proper action of the pivotal lever 5 and the parts supported and controlled thereby. A back-stop 19 holds the rack 15 in mesh with its cooperating pinion of the train 16.

Having regard now to the action of my improved feed-regulator, parts of which have been above named, it is of course obvious that the levers 5 and 6 move together and that the opening between the parts 9 and 10, which cooperate to afford the supply-valve, will be varied according to the movements of the levers 5 and 6. If the outer or longer arms of the levers 5 and 6 rise, the valve-sleeve 9 will be lowered. and the opening at the supply-valve be correspondingly decreased, and of course if the outer or longer arms of the levers 5 and 6 lower the sleeve 9 will be raised and the opening between the parts 9 and 10 be corres iondingly increased. Let it now be noted that the controlling-hopper 13, carried by the counterweighted lever 55, has an outlet much less than its open top or inlet and less than the intended normal feed from the supplyvalve and through the machine. From this fact or feature it follows that under the normal feed the controlling-hopper 13 will fill up and run over. Hence it further follows that a substantially constant bulk of continuouslychanging stock will be available within the controlling-hopper 13 for controlling the supply-valve according to the weight of the stock in the hopper 13, so as to maintain a continuous feed which shall be constant in weight per unit of time. The adjustable weight 14: may of course be set to aiford any desired opening at the supply-valve made up of the cooperating parts 9 and 10, or, otherwise stated, the weight 1e may be set to give any desired normal feed for any given line of stock. Thereafter the machine will become automatically adjustable to maintain the contiuous feed constant in weight per unit of time, notwithstanding variations in bulk due to differences in the quality of the stock or from other causes. Suppose, for example, the weight 14 has been set so as to establish a nomal feed of, say, ten pounds of grain per minute. of time. The controlling-hopper 13 will not pass that much through its outlet, but will fill upand overflow at the top. The outlet from the hopper 13, however, will per mit the stock within the hopper to continuously change. Hence if any change should occur in the weight of the stock admitted through the supply-valve the changed weight of the bulk thereof within the hopper 13 will correspondingly change the coupled levers 5 and 6, so as to vary the opening at the supply-valve to maintain the same feed of, say, ten pounds 'per minute, notwithstanding the change in the quantity or bulk of the stock which may require to be fed. From the foregoing 'it must of course be obvious that the normal feed is the weight of the stock regardless of bulk, or, otherwise stated, the quantity of stock measured in weight which passes through the machine in any given unit oftime. This depends on the position of the adjustable weight 1 which is set once for all for any given kind or class of stock in the position required to secure and insure the said normal feed per unit of time, or, in other words, the weight of that kind of stock desired to be fed through the machine in the given unit of time. The normal feed for the receiver 13 from the supply-valve, made up of the parts 9 and 10, is exa :tly the same as the normal feed through the machine. Otherwise stated, the feed from the supple-valve a nd the discharge from the machine are the same, as the latter depends upon the former. The control of the supply-valve, therefore, under this invention depends upon the variation n weight of a substantially uniform bulk of the stock being fed. It is therefore reliable and sensitive. This principle of action distinguishes my invention herein disclosed and claimed from any feed-regulator hitherto disclosed in the prior art designed to maintain a continuous feed constant in weight per unit of time so far as the prior art is known to me. For example, the principle pointed out distinguishes my invention from the machine disclosed in the Dougan United States Patent No. 504,125, of date August 29, 1893. In said Dougan machine the control of the supply-valve depends, primarily, upon the impact or striking force of the continuous stream of stock on the movable receiver. The Dougan receiver does not fill up and overflow, but all the stock passes therethrough, and reliance is placed solely or primarily on the impact to effect the control. It is found in pr ctice that the mere impact or striking force of the stream of stock cannot be relied upon to maintain the desired continuous feed constant in weight per unit of t me, for the reason that other things than mere weight, such as the dryness or moistness of the stock or the hardness or the softness thereof or the shape and character of foreign materials commingled therewith, may change the character of the flow t) such an extent as to render the impact unreliable for sufliciently sensitive control. Moreover, in regulators of the Dougan type, depending primarily upon impact, the movable'receiver must be located at a considerable distance from the supply-valve. This limitation does not apply to my invention. In my feed-regulat or the controlling-hopper may be in close contact with the supply-valve,

as the impact or striking force of the stream of stock being fed is a matter of indiiference.

Of courseit will be understood that the supply-valve may be of any suitable construction and that the movable receiver or controllinghopper 13 may be suspended under an adjust able counterbalance in any suitable way. It is of course equally obvious that the fixed guide-hopper 11 may be dispensed with; but if used the opening through the said hopper 11 must be lerge'enouqh t3 aiford a fr: 9- passage for the max' .num feed from the supply valve.

So far as the main or important feature of my invention hitherto emphasized is concerned it will of corrse be understood that any suitable retarding device nv ght be applied to prevent the trembling or short vibrations of the coupled levers 5 and 6 and the parts supportfd thereby. I have found in practice, however, that a reterder made up of one or more Wh ;els subjrct some moving part of the counterbalanced receiver is more reliable and durable in practice than a dash-pot or diaphragm such as shown or suggested in the Dougan patent. The so-ealled' clock-fan or strike-wheel chtck herein shown is a good form of retarder; but I do not wish to be limited thereby, as one or more wheels, whether multiplying or not, with light tension brake pinion or member of said. train of multiply devices might answer equally well. It will of course be also understood that While my automatic feed-regulator herein disclosed was especially designed foruse in feeding grain to roller-mills it is capable of general application for feeding many other kinds of material where the correspondingfunctions are desired.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An automatic feed-regulator, comprising a supply-valve, a counterbalanced receiver located below and arranged to continuously receive the stock from said supply-valve, said receiver having a constantly-open dischargepassage of less area than the normal area of the opening controlled by said supply-valve,

- and an operating connection from said receiver to said supply-valve, whereby said receiver will fill up and overflow under normal feed, thus rendering available asubstantially uniform bulk of continuously-changing stock in said receiver, for controlling said supplyvalve according to the weight of the stock in said receiver, to maintain a continuous feed of the stock, constant in weight per unit of time.

2. An automatic feed-regulator, comprising a supply-valve, a movable receiver located below and arranged to continuously receive the stock from said, supply-valve, which receiver has a constantly-open discharge-passage of less area than the normal area of the passage controlled by said feed-valve, a variable counterbalance acting on said receiver, to fix the weight of the stock to be fed per unit of time, and an operating connection from said receiver to said feed-valve, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. An automatic feed-regulator, comprising a supply-valve, a counterbalanced receiver continuously receiving .from said supplyvalve, an operating connection from said re ceiver to said valve, and a retarding device applied to prevent trembling of said receiver and cooperating parts, which retarding device is composed of a fan, a train of multiplyinggears applied thereto, and a rack or movable device, subject to a movable part of said counterbalanced receiver, and applied to the initial jug-gears, substantially as described.

4:. In an automatic feed-regulator, the combination, with a supply-valve, of a counterbalanced receiver constantly receiving from said supply-valve, an operating connection from said receiver to said valve, and one or more retarding-wheels subject to a movable part of said counterbalanced receiver, or parts cooperating therewith, which retarding wheel or wheels operate to prevent the trembling or vibration of said receiver and connected parts, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a suitable casing, of a supply-valve made up of a fixed conical member 10 and a movable member 9, carried by the pivoted lever 6 and a counterbalanced receiver continuously receiving from said supply-valve and made up of the hopper 13 having a discharge of less size than the normal opening of the supply-valve, the pivoted lever 5 suspending said hopper 13 and provided with the adjustable Weight 1 1, with the lever 5 connected by link 7 to the valve-suspending levers 6, substantially as and. for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination with the casing 1, of the supply-valve made up of the fixed cone 10 and the movable member or sleeve 9 carried .by the pivoted lever 6, the counterbalanced receiver composed of the hopper 13 having a discharge less than the supply thereto under the normal feed from the supply-valve, the pivoted lever 5 suspending said hopper 13, the weight 14.- adjustable on said lever 5, a connection between said levers 5 and 6 for causing the same to move in unison with each other, and the retarding device comprising the rack 15 pivoted to the lever 5, the casing 18 having the fan 17, the train of gearing 16 subject to said rack 15 and the back-stop 19, for said rack, all cooperating, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL R. DRAVER.

Witnesses Jos. MARoHANrr, F. W. MARCHANT. 

